Saves : 1970 American League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"The key for this year was staying healthy, playing 154 games (his biggest goal was to play 162 games). When I'm healthy, I'm can put up the best numbers I can." - Juan Gonzalez (1999)
 

1970 Saves Leaders

Top 25 in the American League

Ron Perranoski 34 Minnesota Twins 1
Lindy McDaniel 29 New York Yankees 2
Darold Knowles 27 Washington Senators 3
Tom Timmermann 27 Detroit Tigers  
Mudcat Grant 24 Oakland Athletics 5
Wilbur Wood 21 Chicago White Sox 6
Sparky Lyle 20 Boston Red Sox 7
Ken Tatum 17 California Angels 8
Jack Aker 16 New York Yankees 9
Stan Williams 15 Minnesota Twins 10
Pete Richert 13 Baltimore Orioles 11
Ken Sanders 13 Milwaukee Brewers  
Ted Abernathy 12 Kansas City Royals 13
Eddie Watt 12 Baltimore Orioles  
Dennis Higgins 11 Cleveland Indians 15
Mel Queen 9 California Angels 16
Eddie Fisher 8 California Angels 17
Fred Lasher 8 Detroit Tigers  
Cleveland Indians  
Bob Locker 7 Milwaukee Brewers 19
Oakland Athletics  
Gary Wagner 7 Boston Red Sox  
Joe Grzenda 6 Washington Senators 21
Horacio Pina 6 Washington Senators  
Vicente Romo 6 Boston Red Sox  
Paul Doyle 5 California Angels 24
Andy Messersmith 5 California Angels  



The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

Jim Thome wore number twenty-five since he first came up with the Cleveland Indians making him the franchise record holder for that particular number (Mike Garcia is second).